Francis Morrissey, from left, chair of Tignish Minor Hockey, accepts a cash donation of $2,000 from the winning team in the third annual MacLeod’s Ledge Bluefin Tuna Cup. Also on hand for the presentation is Denis Potvin, center, whose team placed second in the two-day tournament by an inch. Members of the winning Acton, Ontario-based Biggest Fish Hunters Team are, from second left, Jim Chaisson, Sheldon Gallant, Steven Christopher, Len Christopher and Erv Skrien.Submitted photo

The third annual event, held last Thursday and Friday, attracted nine teams, up from six and seven the first two years.

Arsenault, the executive director of Tignish Initiatives, bases her optimism on the enthusiasm of this year’s teams and a challenge laid down by the winning team, calling on all participating teams to return and to each bring another team with them.

“So it sounds like we will be expanding yet again next year,” she remarked.

This year’s catch and release tournament was run in good weather conditions and teams got to experience the thrill of the fight.

Team “The Biggest Fish Hunters,” from Acton, Ontario, onboard Puda Vida, won the tournament with a tuna that measured 10 feet, three inches. The team consisted of Steven and Len Christopher, Sheldon Gallant, Erv Skrien, Matt Langsford and Jim Chaisson. The boat was captained by Peter Gauthier, and his first mate was Ross Gauthier.

The biggest fish was hooked on the second day of the two-day tournament. Arsenault said teams all but conceded that the Denis Potvin and friends team from New York City, onboard the Waypoint ’04 with captain Kenny McRae, would be tournament winners after they hooked a 10 foot two inch fish on the opening day, but the Biggest Fish Hunters yanked the prize away.

Besides bragging rights and a trophy, their prize consisted of a $2,000 cash award for the charity of their choice and they awarded it to Tignish Minor Hockey.

Francis Morrissey, from left, chair of Tignish Minor Hockey, accepts a cash donation of $2,000 from the winning team in the third annual MacLeod’s Ledge Bluefin Tuna Cup. Also on hand for the presentation is Denis Potvin, center, whose team placed second in the two-day tournament by an inch. Members of the winning Acton, Ontario-based Biggest Fish Hunters Team are, from second left, Jim Chaisson, Sheldon Gallant, Steven Christopher, Len Christopher and Erv Skrien.Submitted photo